Electric-reel switch



W. HERMANN ELECTRIC REEL SWI'ICI'I' Nov. 26, 1929.

2 Sheets-Sheet a I fler'marwz,

Filed Jan. 20, 1926 Nov 26, 1929. v w, HERMANN 1,737,309

ELECTRIC REEL SWITCH Filed Jan. 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WOLFGANG HER/MANN, OF CHICAGO, ELLIHOZS, IL$SIGNOR 'IO ll/.[EETAL .SPECIAIJTIES MANUFAC'EKT GOMZFAIIY, CHI AGO, ILLZI'IQIS, A CORPORATIONEOF ILLINEOIS ELECTRIC-REEL SVIITGH Application filed January 20, 11326. .ileral No. 182,522.

inrention relates particularly to electric reels adapted for use in connection with i cigar-lighters, electric lamps, etc.

The in )roved device is particularly useful in connection. with automobiles, and espedaily in connection with cigar-lighters for automobiles.

The primary object is to provide improved ine= .s for controlling the electric circuit; In

19 accordance with this invention, the electric" circui -"of the cigar-lighter, for example, 1s

automatically broken during the initial portion of the rewinding operation, and is automatically made during the initlal port10n of the ope-ration of unwinding the electric cord from the reel. V

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the reel is provided at oneend with contact member, and the frame or casing is provided withaco-a-cting contact member; and an lndependently movable circuit-controlling device in the form or an insulation strip is interposed between the planes of the contact members and has 2.3 a imited travel with the reel in one direction to make the circuit during the initial portion of the unwlnoing of the cord, and has a limited travel with the reel inthe opposite direction to break the circuit during the llllclal portion of the rewmding of the cord.

The rewinding of the reel is efi'ectedbymeans of a clock spring in a well known manner.

Preferably, the insulation strip mentioned,

circuit-maker-andbreaker, is Emotionally moved by the reel durwhich operates as a ing theinitialportion of the unwinding operation and allows the leait-sprmp; contact member mounted on the frame, or casing, to come into contact with the annular contact member of the reel, the movement ofthe insulation strip being" limited by a stop with which the casing"; is provided, while the reel is free to continue itsmovement of rotation; and in reverse movement (the rewinding), the

insulation strip is returned by the frictional action of the reel during its initial rewinding movement to its original circuit-breaking positlon, where it remains in readiness to main tain an open circuit after the electric cord 59 has been fully rewound upon the reel. Y

The invention isillustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in Which- 1 F 1 represents an elevational view of cigar-lighter embodying the invention;

side of the cl ar-lighter; Fig. 35 a View to Fig. 1, but showing one side of tune, .or casing, removed; Fig. d, an inner view of the removed side o f the .-casing,

showing it equipped with spring-contactmember; Fig. 5,.a view showing the casing and the reelremoved.,therefromand reversed; Fig. 6,.21116l83'2tb1011fll v ewofthe reel ,andattendant parts; Fig. 7, a view of the handle 7, employed for turning the shaft to apply -tenview of a tension memberemployed which is interposedbetween onewall-of the casing and the frictionally actuated.coritachmakerand-breaker. I Y

In the embodiment .of the invention .illustrated, Adesignates a frame,=o,r casing, which comprises a maincasing section A and aremovable cap A the naln cas1ng'sect on be ng.

equipped with aclampingtube A adaptedto be clamped to a dash of anautomobile,:for

example B,a reelmounted so as toabe capable of revolving onashaftB whose endsare supported in the side-Walls of the.casing, one,end of-said shaft-being equipped with a removable handle B whichi-s adapted to engage any one of a series ofratchet-lugs B with which the casing is equipped;C a main-spring confined in a chamber formed inone side of the reel and having'one end attached-at 1 to theshaft,

a cigar lig'htertip carried by a tubularhandle D whiclris-adapted to',be sheathed withimthe tube. A -andqE,1an-e1ectric(cord which is in electrical connection -.with :the cigar lighter F 1g2'2, a broken elevational view-of the .r e"

and theother'end attached at 2 to'the reel; D, i

tip, said cord being adapted to be wound upon the reel B.

The casing A may be of any suit-able construction. Preferably, it is made from sheetmetal and has the clamping-tube A secured to it in tangential relation. Ordinarily, the

clamping-tube is threaded and equipped with nuts 3. Thus, the, tube may extend through a perforation in the dash and may be clampedv to the dash in a well known manner, thus supporting the casing.

The removable cap A of the casing is provided with a central perforation 4 adapted to receive one end of the shaft B. The opposite end of said shaft is provided with suitable grooves 5 for receiving the forked end of the handle, or lever, B as will be understood 7 from Figs. 2, 6 and 7.

' section of the reel. The annular contact memher 7 is carried by insulation disks 8 which are secured toone end of the barrel of the reel.

The annular contact member 7 of the reel coaets with a spring contact member 9 in the form of a curved segmental member whose base-portion is mounted at9 on an insulation .member 10 secured to the inner surface of the casing-cap A At its outer side, the cap A in the illustration given, is equipped with a terminal 11 with which connects a conductor '12 which may lead to the battery. The terminal 11 connects through a fuse 12 with a clip 13 which is connected by a rivet 13 with the I base-portion of the springcontact member 9.

The cap A is shown equipped, also, with a terminal 14 which is in electrical Contact with the casing. If desired, a conductor (not shown) may extend from the terminal 14 to one terminal of the battery. Where the cas- .ing is in electrical contact with the frameof the automobile and thus grounded, it is unwith the clip necessary to employ a conductor in connection One of the wires of the electric cable E is electrically connected] at 15 with the main section of the reel B; and the'other wire is electrically connected at 16' with the annular contact member 7 of the reel.

Interposed between the annular contact member 7 of the reel andthe. spring-contact finger 9 carried by the removable cap of the casing is a disk-like circuit-maker-and-breaker 17. In the illustration given, this comprises a radially disposed insulation strip journalled on a sleeve 18 which comprises a portion of the reel, this sleeve being in turn journalledon the shaft B. The insulation member'17 may comprise a strip of material having smooth sides, such as a strip of formica or micarta. Preferably, a washer 19 is interposed between the member 17 and the adjacent insulation disk 8. The washer 19 preferably is of insulation material without very smooth or polished surfaces. It is intended to serve as a friction member between the member 17 and the reel.

Interposed between the removable cap A of the casing and the circuitmaker-andbreaker 17 is a tension Washer 20 which is provided with curved segmental arms 20 which bear against the inner surface of the cap A The latter is secured to the end of the shaft B by means of a screw 21. As ,appears from Fig. 11, the edge of the circum ferential wall of the main casing section A is provided with arecess 22; and (see Fig. 10) the flange 23 of the cap section A is provided with an inwardly struck lug 23 which is adapted to register with and engagethe recess 22. i

In assembling the parts, the circuit-makerand-breaker 17 is disposed in the position shown in Fig. 3; and when the cap A is applied, with the lug 2S engaging the recess 22, the spring-contact finger 9 will have itsfree end portion bearing on the member 17', as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. Assuming the spring G to be under suitable tension, the reel will operate to rewind the electric cord after the cigar-lighter has been in use. When the cigar-lighter is withdrawn from its socket, the cord E turns the reel against the force of its spring C. During the initial portion of the unwinding operation, the reel, through friction, turns the cir-.

'euit-maker-and-breaker 17 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. This action continues until the advance edge of the member 17 strikes a stud, or stop, 24:, which projects inwardly from the casing cap A This arrests the movement of the member- 17, but the movement of the reel continues as the cord is withdrawnoutwardly. Almost immediately after the member 17 starts to move during the initial portion of the unwindingof the cord, said member 17 is withdrawn from the circuit-breaking position and permits the extremity of the spring finger 9-to fall into contact with the contact member 7 of the reel. This completes the electric circuit,'it being understood that the current can pass outwardly through onewire of the cord Eto the resistance wire of the cigarlighter tip, thence from the resistance wire, .back through the other wire of thecord E to the mainsection of the reel, thence from the reel to the shaft B and to the casing A. The casing A is suitably grounded, or con =nected, withone side of the battery, and the spring-contact finger 9 is connected by means of the conductor 12 withthe other side of the battery. I

After the cigar-lighter :has been used, the electric cord will be automatically wound upon the reel, assuming that :the user releases his iho'ld upon the cigar-lighter tip. During the initial portion of the rewinding :operation, the reel acts frictionally to return the contactemakerand-breaker 17 to=the circuitibreakingposition illustrated in z-Fig. 3, thus :ili'fting-Lthe spring fingeraway from the ananular contact-member 7 of'tzhe reel. The stop 24 operates again to arrest the movement of the member. 1'1, while theireel is free to continue the operation of winding up the electrio cord. It will be-noted thatinasmuch as ithe'spring finger 9 is stationary (it does not rotate), and the circuit maker-and breaker 17 becomes stationary when arrested *by thesto p 24, the circuit will be interrupted very quickly after :the rewinding movement .begfinsiand will continue in interrupted con- "dition during the whole-of the remainder of the .irewi'nding operation.

or interrupted, depending upon the direc-' tion of movement of the reel.

In practice, it has been ascertained that the improved device will operate with certainty throughout a period far beyond that requisite for a cigar-lighter. In other words, the cir cuit-malrer-and-breaker will remain practically operative throughout any possible life of the cigar-lighter as a whole. The improved circuit-maker-and-breakeris believed to be wholly novel, and it is desired to claim the same broadly.

In practice, the cigar-lighter tip D ordi-e narily is removably mounted in the tubular member D, which serves as a handle when I the cigar-lighter tip is being used. [is is well known, the shank of the c1gar-hghter tip and the socket of the handle portion are provided with co-acting contacts through which the circuit to the resistance wire (notv shown) is completed. Also, as is well understood in this art, the cigardwhter tip may be removed and replaced by a lampbulb, v1 desired.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed, asbroadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

lVhat I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s:

1. in means :ofthecharacter s t forth, the combination of a frame, a spring-actuated reel rmounted therein and equipped at one end with an annular contact-member, an

electric cord connected with said contactmember and adapted tobe wound n-pon said reel, a contact-member mounted on said'frame and co-acting with said first-named .contact-member, and-an independently movable contact-malter-and breaker interposed between saidcontact-members and journal'led ice-axially with said reel and actuated through a limited are by the reel and permittingtlie reel to continue its.rotationwhilethe contact-maker-and-breaker remains at rest; 2. In means of thecharacter set forth, the combination ofa frame, a spring-actuated reel mounted therein and equippedat oneend with an insulated annular contact-member, an electric cord connected with saidbontact member and adapted to be wound upon'said reel, a spring contact-member mounted on said frame and co-acting with said first- "named contact-member, and an independent- :ly movable contact maker and-breaker of insulating :material interposed betweenthe planes of said contact members and journalled co-axially with said reel and-actuated through al-imitedarc ibytthe reel and permitting the reelw-to continue its rotation the the 1contact+maker+and br'eaker remains at rest. 1

:8. In meansof ithe cha-racter set forth, the combination ot a frame, va spring-actuated reel :moun'ted therein :and equipped at one end with an insulated :annular contact-member,-anelectric cord connected with said contact-member and adapted to be wound :upon said reel, a spring contact-member mountedon said frame and co-aoting with said first-named contactmember, and insulation member interposed between said contact-members and j ournalled on the of said reel :an'd frictionally actuated throu Qjh :a limited are by said reel I during the "initial" gpontionsofthe unwinding and the winding perations. 1 p k .4. meansoft-he: character set forth, the comblnation-of-a casing, a fixed shaft mounted in said casing, Ja reel journalled "on said shaft, said-reel having at one end an insuing-one -end connected with said reel and the other end connected withsaid shaft,'a spring contact-finger within said casing and mount- =ed on one end thereof, a disk-like, contac maker-and-breaker interposed between said contact finger and theadjacent end of said reel and journalled co-axially with the reel,

lated annular contact-member, a spring hav- I .saidirecl having frictional engagement with 'said contactrmakerand-breaker, means for limiting the rotative movement of said contaot malrer-and-breaker, and an electric cord adapted to be woundion said reel and having;

a conductor connected with said annular contact-member.

5. In means of the character set forth, thev combination of a casing, a spring-actuated 5 reel journalled therein, said reel having at one end a contact disk, aspring contact-meniber within the casing and mounted on one end thereof and co-acting with said contact disk, a disk-like contact-maker-and-breaker of insulating material interposed between said finger and disk and journalled concentrio with the axis of said reel, and a friction disk interposed between said contact-makerand-breaker and the adjacent end of said reel. 7

6. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a reel provided with a contact disk, a co-acting spring contact-finger, and a frictionally actuated disk-like contactmaker-and-breaker interposed between said finger and reel and co-axially with respect to said reel.

7. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a reel provided with a con- 25. tact disk, a co-acting spring contact-finger,

and a disk-like frictionally actuated contactmaker and breaker of insulation material posed between said contact-memberslfland adapted to oscillate about the axis of said reel as a center, and a spring washer concentrio with said shaft and serving to press said contact-maker-and-breaker towards said reel.

11. In means of the character set'forth, the combination of a metal casing, a shaft fixed therein, a metal reel journalled on said shaft and provided at one end with an insulated contact-disk, a spring connecting said shaft and reel, an electric cord adapted to be wound on said reel and having a conductor connected with said reel and another conductor connected with said contact disk, a spring contact-member insulatingly mounted on one end of the casing and co-acting with said contact-disk, and a disk-like contact-maker-andbreaker of insulating material interposed between said contact-finger and said contactdisk and rotatable about said shaft as an axis, said contact-maker-and-breaker being frictionally actuated by said reel, and means for limiting the reciprocating movements of said contact-maker-and-breaker while the reel is permitted to continue its rotation.

WOLFGANG HERMANN.

interposed between said finger and reel and 1 journalled onthe axis of said reel.

8. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a reel provided with a contact disk, a co-acting spring contact-finger, a frictionally actuated disk like contactmaker-and-breaker interposed between said 35 finger, and reel and journalled co-axially with respect to said reel, and a spring device serving to press said contact-maker-andbreaker towards said reel. 7

9. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a frame, .a. shaft fixedly mounted therein, a reel journalled on said shaft and having at one end an insulated annular contact member, a springconnecting said reel and shaft, an electric cord adapted ductor connected with said annular contactmember and a conductor in electric connection with said shaft, a spring contact-member mounted in. said frame and co-acting with said annular contact-member, and a -disk-like contact-maker-and-breaker of into be wound on said reel and having a con- .sulating material. interposed between said contact-members and journalled to rotate concentrically with respect to said shaft and frictionally actuated by said reel, and a stop carried by said frame adapted to limit the rotation of said contact-maker-and-breaker. 10. In means of the character set forth,'the combination of a reel equipped at one end 06 actuated circuit maker and breaker interwith a contact-member, a stationary shaft I upon which said reel is journalled, a station- 

